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The New Orleans Saints dismissed head coach Dennis Allen on Monday, marking a significant shakeup following the team’s seven-game losing streak.

The decision came on the heels of a disappointing 23-22 loss to the Carolina Panthers, a last-place team in the division, which extended the Saints’ rough season to one of its worst since 1999.

Allen, who took over head coaching duties in 2022 after Sean Payton’s temporary departure, managed an 18-25 record with no playoff appearances.

 The Saints have now gone four consecutive seasons without making it to the postseason, and the recent game illustrated the team’s struggle with an ailing roster.

 On Sunday, they faced Carolina without three top cornerbacks—Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo, and Kool-Aid McKinstry—yet still outgained the Panthers 427 to 246 yards.

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Darren Rizzi Steps in as Interim Coach

With Allen out, the Saints appointed special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi, 54, as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Rizzi, who is stepping into the role for the first time with the Saints, is determined to tackle the challenge head-on.

“This is not a day for celebration,” Rizzi commented. “This is a tough day. At the same time, there’s only one way to fight through this.” 

Rizzi is optimistic. He describes his journey from walk-on tight end at Rhode Island to undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles. And eventually landing his first head coaching role with Division II New Haven.

“Literally, we’re going to reevaluate everything,” Rizzi stated, acknowledging his commitment to revitalizing the Saints’ program. 

Drawing inspiration from his mentor, two-time Super Bowl champion Bill Parcells, Rizzi emphasized a full reset. “You’re going to reevaluate everybody, everything, staff, the coaches, the players,” he said.

 “Because, right now, when you lose seven games in a row, you’re obviously not in a place where you can stay status quo.”

Reflecting on Allen’s Tenure 

Dennis Allen’s journey with the Saints spans many years, beginning as a defensive assistant from 2006 to 2010. He later returned as defensive coordinator in 2015, where he led one of the league’s top defenses in 2020 and 2021.